MINELREL-L Archive (01122001-10:26:53-12079)

Fwd: Leaving Statement of Alan Phillips, Director, MRG


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Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 10:26:52 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Fwd: Leaving Statement of Alan Phillips, Director, MRG


From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Panayote Dimitras <[email protected]>

Fwd: Leaving Statement of Alan Phillips, Director, MRG



NOTE: GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR IS HONORED TO HAVE ALAN PHILLIPS AS
MEMBER OF ITS ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
---------------------------------------------------------------
 
Leaving Statement of Alan Phillips – Director, MRG
 
http://www.minorityrights.org/news/displaynews.asp?id=53
 
10 December 2000
 
At the end of this year I shall be leaving Minority Rights Group after
11 remarkably challenging and enjoyable years. I wanted to share with
friends and colleagues my reasons for leaving, and hope that with
shared values we will work together in the future.
 
We all know the remarkable changes that there have been
internationally since 1989 that have transformed the visibility and
importance of minority rights. Many of us were able to work together
to make great strides forward in promoting minorities and minority
rights in communities that had often been marginalized and too
frequently victimised. I saw that vividly when I was at the British
Refugee Council. Today the issues are now high on the agenda, sets of
rights have been agreed, the link between social exclusion of many
minorities and poverty is being understood and a new international
programme for action emerging. An important new agenda is emerging.
 
I had originally planned to leave after a decade as Director at the
end of the millennium, it felt a good time to move. Fate intervened
and in July 1999 our Chairman, Neelan Tiruchelvam was deliberately
killed by a car bomb in Sri Lanka, as he courageously promoted
minority rights and peaceful reconciliation. My plans were put on hold
until we found an interim chairman, who would then be in position to
lead the selection of a new Director. Professor Patrick Thornberry
fulfilled this role and Mark Lattimer, Head of Communications of the
British Section of Amnesty International, was appointed as my
successor as International Director. He brings with him many talents
and a new set of experiences when he joins MRG in February.
 
I believe that Minority Rights Group today is stronger and more
effective than it has ever been. Our research and publications have a
high reputation and are influential globally. Our international
advocacy reaches and persuades influential audiences in governments
and intergovernmental bodies, while our rights work with many partners
from minority groups worldwide has been established as a practical and
exciting initiative in recent years.
 
The experience of staff in rights based programmes is growing, the
Council is a good, broadly based, international body, while our income
has grown tenfold to £1.8 million over the last 10 years and we are
predicting a sustainable growth of 15% per annum, through the support
of a wide range of donors that enable us to set the agenda. MRG has a
high reputation in key areas but it is important not to become
complacent. Individuals and organisations need change with new
environments and new blood. Although MRG has metamorphosed several
times in the last decade, challenges continue and need a new energy
and a different approach.
 
I have been a Director or Deputy Director of a human rights
organisation since 1973, I want to take a new role for a while,
meeting human rights challenges. I have chosen a role that draws me
closer to the key policies and the local realities of human rights and
away from the management and fundraising, constantly needed in
independent human rights organisations.
 
A wonderful opportunity has presented itself, as I was nominated by
the UK and elected by the Council of Europe as Vice President Advisory
Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities (FCNM). (Quite a grand title, but we are doing some
important practical work promoting minority rights, at a time that
there are major problems and considerable sensitivity to this issue in
Europe).
 
The work has grown considerably with our recognised value, and it was
becoming impossible to fulfil this role properly requiring up to 40
days per annum, while being a Director. This potential problem has
been turned into an opportunity, with the help of a project grant.
Next year I shall be promoting a local ownership of this Convention
with community groups in Europe, particularly in South East Europe,
while continuing voluntary work on the FCNM.
 
This will also give me some space, initially to think and reflect to
allow my soul to catch up with my body, and then to pioneer some new
work.
 
I will miss the constant challenges of the London office and the team
work with colleagues, but will gain from a deeper understanding and
engagement in local minority issues. As an added bonus I will enjoy
the delights of living in Brighton without it being mitigated by
tedious train journeys into London.
 
I hope that you will help me ensure that we will remain in touch and
we will find new ways of promoting human rights together in the
future. Thank you for all your support
 
With best wishes
 
Alan Phillips
 
Director
 
© Minority Rights Group International 1997, Web Design On-line
Publishing
 

_______________________________________
Panayote Elias Dimitras
Spokesperson
Greek Helsinki Monitor
e-mail: [email protected]
 
Internet Addresses:
Balkan Human Rights Web Pages: http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
The Balkan Human Rights List: http://www.egroups.com/group/balkanhr
The Greek Human Rights List: http://www.egroups.com/group/greekhr
Dikaiomatika! [monthly human rights review in Greek]:
http://www.egroups.com/group/dikaiomatika
Alternative Information Network (AIM) - Athens [articles in Greek]:
http://www.egroups.com/group/aimgreek
 
Mail Address:
P.O. Box 60820
GR-15304 Glyka Nera, Greece
 
Telephone and Fax:
Tel. +30-1-347.22.59;
Fax +30-1-601.87.60
________________________________________

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